Johnson pulled plug on Jefferson’s playoff game
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Coaches will do practically anything and everything to get their teams into the playoffs.
But Jefferson Coach Doi Johnson didn’t see it that way for his team. So even though Jefferson (3-7) was seeded 15th in the Invitational Division on Saturday, Johnson decided to turn down the selection.
‘Because of team issues, I made the decision we would hold the team out,’ said Johnson, who did not exchange game film at the seeding meeting on Saturday. ‘For a moment I had a change of heart, but only for a moment. [The issues] involved more than one player. But they were severe enough for me to say we are not going.’
Naturally Johnson, whose action was supported by Athletic Director Andy Fujitsubo -- ‘It was his call and I understand why he did it,’ Fujitsubo said, had to deal with several unhappy players. ‘But once we talked about what the issues were, the kids understood,’ Johnson said.
Roosevelt was chosen to replace Jefferson.
-- Mike Terry